Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-27
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Wednesdays Session of the American
Missionary Society at Portland.
Interesting Discussions by Prominent
Divines.
PORTLAND, Oct. 26.

At Wednesday forenoon's meeting, the first
hour was devoted to a prsyer-meeting, led by
DR.. Jos. Anderson of Waterbury, CT. Rev.
Mr.. Loring opened the regular session with
prayer. A feeling allusion was made by the
| chairman to the illness of Rev. Dr. Carruth-
ers. former pastor of the Second Parish
church. After the reading of the minutes,
the committees were appointed to report on
educational work, finance, Chinese mission
aries and work among the mountain whites.
After transacting busineas of minor import
arce, the convention adjourned until P. NJ.
At P. NJ. the convention opened by sing
ing ''Stand up my soul shake off thy fears"
followed by prayer by Rev. George B. Street
of Exeter.
Rev. w. G. Sloan of Baltimore presented
report upon the educational work of the
Association. This was carefully prepared
paper, and gave much detailed information.
There were employed in eight States 10000
| coiored teachers and the question is when
can they be educated. Nine-tenths are train
ed in missionary schools, and over half
in schools of this Association. DR.. Curry,
the eminent Southern Baptist, our minister
| TO Spain. who before going there was 50 ac-
| tive In promoting education in the South,
says, that the Congregationalists are doing
more than any oiher denomination in this d.
rection. This great need must be provided
for or we have paganism in our own vitals.
| Here is the problem that we must solve in
the next tive enty five years.
| The country negro schools are mostly in
the most rude condition with wholly unfit
buildings and teachers. One-fourth of the
race is advancing, but from one-fourth to
one-half are rapidly sinking. Fetchism is
even reviving. Many homes are novels in
which men, women and dogs sleep together
like beasts. Do you think it is time to stop
your contributions or prayers? You are like
Arnold in England, preparing leaders. You
cannot falter in the path on which you en-
cred. Give them light and the question of
rights will take care of itself.
Rev. Mr.. +. M. Emerson of Newport, R.
l., continued the subject.
God has given us four problems, the pro-
per treatment of the Indians, negro, Chinese
and European peasant. What are we to do
with these alien elements. When Rome
heard of an alien power she Conquered and
assimlated it, making it part of her own
strength. She did it with a sword of steel,
we with that of the Spirit. We must use
three 'tL's" and an r." land, law, letters
and religion. Illiteracy is a dark and an
immense fact much is being done, but there
are some very dark facts.
Seventy y-three per cent. of the colored pop
ulation can't read and write; in the Gulf
States seventy eight per cent. There is a
rapid relative increase Of the blacks in all
the States. In one hundred years they will
number 100000 in the South, and the
whites not more than SO, 900, 900. There will
not many foreign born or northern born come
in to make the balance good. The prejudice
against the race is strong and if left to itself
with no effort from the outside to elevate the
blacks we would feel as they do were we in
their place. But yet the barbarianism of
the Glunn bill is amazing. We must go far
back to match it. He told of negro preach
er who said the children of Israel crossed the
Red Sea on the ice. hearer objected that
this is in the tropics. "Well, brudderen,'
said he, 'thi. happened before there was any
tropics" So the Glunn bill seems to be a
period before there were any tropics. Educs
ton alone will Dot do. You may teach man
to print and read, but will his chosen mate
rial be the Police Gazette or the gospel of
Johnp
This is what your strenuous effort to send
| GD6 kOSpel aiOUScluS tuo cpCiiibS ooohs oAho
| to provide for. We must see to it that their
culture is not ungodly. Caste, prejudice and
negro aspiration will have a death grspple
| before long, and if the gospel is not there to
avert harm, no one can tell what wreck will
follow.
graduate of Fisk University, Mr.. Crasth
waite, then gave an account of his efforts in
prohibition. He read strong endorsement
of Fisk from a southern white. Mr.. c. said
that the American Missionary Association
| is doing more than any other agency to slim
alate the white as well as the negro. He
gave a very encouraging account OF the west
Chapel in Texas. Fisk University stimulated
the whites to secure Vanderbilt University,
but the Glunn bill is the strongest possible
evidence that the lever of this association is
working The legislature should have begun
| in regulating the relations of planters with
their colored house keepers. One hundred
Young men and women of Fisk went out and
| labored for prohibition. The colored pulpit
| is largely occupied by adventurers and de-
| bsuchees, so much so that have felt timid
about letting it be known that ] intended to
study theology. But there Is an improve
ment and it is largely due to you. In Ten
nesse. the white normal students this year
get 500 and the colored only S22 so of State
| aid.
| A colored minister, named Van Horn was
the next speaker. He said that at the next
census there will be 100000 negroes and
about the same number of German Irish de-
scent. We may constitute the dark part of
the continent, but you must remember that
until lately it was penal offense to teach q
negro. Dartmouth College was the first to
admit and graduate one of our race-God
| bless her.
DR.. Mckenzie alluded to the liberal policy
of Harvard College toward negroes, one of
the Professors now being member of that
race.
After singing, the report on mountain work
in southern kentucky and Tennessee was
read nv Rev. II. J. Natick of West Newton.
Mass. He said the report was SO interesting